The creative writing, observations, experiences, and opinions, on life, and the world around him, by Kiril Kundurazieff; taking one step at a time on the Journey of Discovery, and Enlightenment, that every individual must take from the cradle to the grave.

Genealogy

April 26, 2011

When asked, at a Heavenly Press Conference, by nosey, inquisitive, Journalists, The Lord God Almighty, caught off guard because even Gabriel , and St Paul, didn't expect THIS question, sighed deeply, and replied...

"The Mad Macedonian is MINE, I sayeth, but, Oh ME, what a Project!"

Then the Press Conference came to an abrupt end, and the last the Official Heavenly Press Corp. saw of the Big Guy was him heading down a hallway, bellowing..."Jesus! Jesus! We Need to Talk, NOW!"

But enough about me, this post is about Bibles. ;-D

Sometime in the 1950's my Maternal Grandmother, Iva Wells, bought a fancy King James "Old Masters" Bible, in a slip case, and filled with wonderful color illustrations by artistis master of centuries past, color maps, indexes, dictionary, and concordance.

Also a section reprinting all 46 of The Parables of Jesus.

It was published in 1954, and is quite beautiful.

Grandma kept the book until her death, and it was passed on to my Mother.

The various places in the book, fo family info, are all filled out, by my Mom, wih info about abour Grandparents, parents, siblings, and also my Dad, my sisters, and I.

April 05, 2010

"Your Life is a Treasure Chest...Share it", says Kathy DeSantis on her website, Memories into Memoirs.

She offers advice on how to share those old Family Stories, and more:

You can keep the legacies alive and write one for them. In fact, one of the best things you can do for your own family and future generations of your family is to "narrate" the history of family members.

What do I mean by "narrate?" Simple -- tell the story. Write the biography. You may have all the pieces of the puzzle you need already. Other parts may not be difficult to find. But a *story* is something people who haven't caught the "genealogy bug" are far more likely to read -- and remember -- than pages and pages of your research...

She proceeds to offer an 8 part outline, or formula, to follow.

She also offers tips on getting unwilling parents, or grandparents, to open up, as well as on why you might want to write your own obituary, and how to go about it.

30 minutes later I was ready for my close-up...and had my Official Mug Shot taken. ;-D

By the time I was ready to go home the hospital gave my parents my first official document of record, a hospital Birth Certificate that, though not the Official Doc, according to the info on the back is still good for proving parentage, age, and identity, for such events as...

1. Entering School.

2. Beginning employment, & securing wroking papers.

3. Voting rights, and jury duty.

4. Proving citizenship.

5. Military service.

6. Obtaining passports for travel in foreign countries.

7. Life insurance, and annuities.

8. Social Security, and Old Age.

9. Proving right to inherit property.

As for my Official Birth Certificate...

It was filed by the County Recorder, one Ray E. Lee, on April Fool's Day, 1960. ;-D

I laughed my ass off when I first learned of this little detail.

Considering my peculiar sense of humor, and my poetic, and creative writing, talents...I find this very much appropriate. ;-D

As the months went by I settled into a regular routine...eating, drinking, burping, pissing, crapping, crying, sleeping...not neccessarily in that order, or at regularly scheduled times approved by Mom, and Dad. ;-D

By 5 months of age I was interested in something to drink considerably stronger, and less healthy for my delicate palate, than Mother's Milk, or Formula. ;-D

I was also fast developing into a Couch Potato, becoming fascinated by the programming found on the early Boob Tube Networks. ;-D

I was also deemed eligible for a driver's license.

At 6 months I was showing signs of becoming your typical male...sitting around, in the privacy of my home, in nothing but my underwear. ;-D

It was at this time, and no doubt because of the above behaviors, that my parents decided I needed a little religion in my life. ;-D

At 6 months I was officially baptised into the Eastern Orthodox Religion, by the Reverend Haplonov, and my parents friends Nick, and Frances Dieduch, became my Godparents.

Did it take?

Well, you be the judge.

While I still sat around the house in my underwear, by the end of the month I was at least wearing a T-shirt, and...

50 years later, I still loaf around the house in my underwear, and still do so wearing a T-shirt. ;-D

It's been a long, complicated, journey, this life of mine.

Through good times, and bad, I've perservered, and become a better person, with a better life, than I was, and had, 12 years ago.

From working for 17 years (1984-2001) for an Independent Bookstore Chain in the Pomona Valley, working my way up to spend the last 11 of those years as a Store Manager, making around $7 an hour, to where I am now working, since 2004, as a Directory Assistance Operator for a prominent Wireless Phone company, making almost $15 an hour, and publishing 2 other blogs besides this one...

August 31, 2009

Yesterday I spent the afternoon wandering around the collection of Antique Stores in Old Towne Orange, Ca., looking for a Vintage Radio Microphone, as a possible prop for my YouTube Videos.

I did not find what I was looking for, and got a better idea anyway, but it was both fascinating, and depressing, to wander around these stores.

Fascinating because of all the cool, beautiful, and strange, stuff one encounters, not to mention these places are a Book, and Record Album, Lovers Wet Dream (Books as old as 1870, in excellent condition, for as little as $10!).

Depressing, from a Genealogy perspective, because of the beautiful (Yes, even a simple B &W image of a person, with no backround, can be beautiful.) Daguerreotypes, photographs, and portraits going back to, at least, the Civil War.

Big ones, small ones, Family Group Photos, High School or College Team Photos, Company Photos, and more, many with names, dates, locations, and messages of all sorts written on the back, all seemingly lost for all time to the descendants of the people in these fascinating glimpses into the past.

Oh, and please don't get me started on the Family Bibles, and Personal Diaries, one encounters as well.

I wonder if there are people out there, in the Genealogy Community, that specialize in re-uniting these lost Photographic Souls, and written treasures, with those who will value, and cherish, them not as opportunities to make money, but as the valuable Family Heirlooms that they are?

August 26, 2009

Thomas MacEntree publishes the contents of a great survey, with some fascinating results to share. ;-D

He writes:

"In July 2009, GeneaBloggers gathered input from the genealogy blogging community as part of the Genealogy Blogging Survey contest. Today we are releasing the results of the survey to give an idea of the impact genealogy blogging has had and will continue to have on the genealogy community.

Who took the Survey?

As expected from a survey accessed at a site called GeneaBloggers, almost 75% of the respondents own at least one genealogy or family history-related blog. And blogging is not something new for this crowd—over half have been actively blogging about genealogy since at least 2007. These bloggers are among those that typically participate in various forms of online genealogy research and are often known as geneabloggers."

As expected from a survey accessed at a site called GeneaBloggers, almost 75% of the respondents own at least one genealogy or family history-related blog. And blogging is not something new for this crowd—over half have been actively blogging about genealogy since at least 2007. These bloggers are among those that typically participate in various forms of online genealogy research and are often known as geneabloggers.

As expected from a survey accessed at a site called GeneaBloggers, almost 75% of the respondents own at least one genealogy or family history-related blog. And blogging is not something new for this crowd—over half have been actively blogging about genealogy since at least 2007. These bloggers are among those that typically participate in various forms of online genealogy research and are often known as geneabloggers.

As expected from a survey accessed at a site called GeneaBloggers, almost 75% of the respondents own at least one genealogy or family history-related blog. And blogging is not something new for this crowd—over half have been actively blogging about genealogy since at least 2007. These bloggers are among those that typically participate in various forms of online genealogy research and are often known as geneabloggers.

August 08, 2009

For over a year, now, The Smile for the Camera Genealogy Blog Carnival has been using monthly prompts to get folks to share their treasured photos.

The site says that: "Your submission may include as many or as few words as you feel are necessary to describe your treasured photograph. Those words may be in the form of an expressive comment, a quote, a journal entry, a poem (your own or a favorite), a scrapbook page, or a heartfelt article. The choice is yours!"

Cool! I decided to join the fun with the 16th Edition, appearing next week.

The word prompt for the 16th Edition of Smile For The Camera is "Bling, ancestor Bling." I am always drawn to the beautiful jewelry worn by our ancestors in old photographs. The locket that was your Great Grandmother's treasure, the pocket watch proudly displayed by a male ancestor, the beautiful crosses of old, and the children with their tiny bracelets. While not many of our ancestors were wealthy enough to own multiple pieces of jewelry, there was the one good piece that held sentimental value. Some of us have been fortunate enough to inherit those treasures. Show us a photograph of your ancestor wearing their "Bling," or photographs of the pieces you have inherited

I don't have pictures of my Mom prominently wearing her jewelry, but I have her Jewelry Box. ;-D

August 01, 2009

Taphophilia describes those folks with a "love of cemeteries and funerals".

All you Genealogists, and others, who like to stroll around graveyards, and share your findings online, apparently have a word to describe yourselves, as The Taphophile's Handbook website says, "without sounding like strange sexual perverts." ;-D

The Taphophile's Handbook is "A Guide to Collections, and Celebrations, Plus Alternatives to Vandalism, and Theft, and is a fascinating site.

Wikipedia says: Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries.

Taphophilia involves epitaphs, gravestone rubbing, photography, art, and history of deaths, both of the famous, and the ordinary.

July 13, 2009

Part 1 is here, and an intro to me, and the Genealogy side of this blog, is here. ;-D

I had planned to attend 11 sessions at Jamboree, but added 1 more Friday morning.

Only 1? It sure felt like I went to many more!

And I mean that in a good way, because I learned so much over the 3 days.

Over the week after Jamboree, as I struggled with Computer issues, I knew I wanted to share some of my notes that I took on many of the classes, here, as a way of giving you, dear reader, an idea of the information discussed, and shared.

During this time I relied on my Co-Blogger, Nikita, to organize my notes for me, and let him write the report I am about to present here.

In the 2 pictures seen in this post, with him in them, I can be seen going over, and discussing, the report with Nikita, checking to see if it was presentable for posting.

In case you are wondering what a Cat is doing blogging about Genealogy, then you may not be a regular reader of this blog. ;-D

It is my hope that if you find this report useful, and informative, that you spread the word to anyone that you think might benefit from it.

So, without further ado, here are my notes, as organized by my Feline Best Buddy, and Co-Blogger!

I. ADVANCED BEGINNING GENEALOGY by Lynne Parmenter:

1. Just becasue it's online doesn't mena it's tru. if you can't see the original just use the info as a clue.

2. Family stories are 1 part true, 1 part fiction, and all about pride: Try to document and research them.

3. Collateral lines lead to missing people.

4. SOURCES: Cite everything! This answers the question - How do I know this?

5. Info is only as good as the sources.

A. Primary data - Witness at time of event.

B. Secondary data - Not a witness. Info is from a source later than the event.

6. Save EVERYTHING found, or gathered, in your research that could provide clues.

7. Missing 1890 Census - Use State Substitutes.

8. Follow Parents, one at a time, backward. Follow their sibblings forward. Repeat with Grand-Parents, and so on. This sets Genealogical Stakes in the ground.

9. Census collects you where you are, the day the Census Taker records you.

10. Census, and other records, are all about the year, and the Government Jurisdiction.

11. People can live in 1 place for years, yet the jurisdiction can change over time; Towns, villages, cities, parishes, counties, states, provinces, and even countries can change their boundaries, jurisdictions, and even names.

12. CENSUS SUBSTITUTES: State and territorial census, Mortality Schedules (All deaths 365 days before a census is taken.), Slave Schedules (With Land Record this gives economic status.).

13. Watch for errors, and ommissions, in census, and other records.

14. Use City Directories, land records, old and new maps and gazaeteers, county histories, mortuary records, and military records.

II. PORTS OF OUR PAST - A GUIDE TO U.S. PORTS, AND RECORDS by Elaine Alexander:

1. Official U.S. Passenger Lists begin in 1820, and stopped in 1924 due to a new Visa Program.

2. Electronic Government Records can be found in Federal and National Archives, State Archives, County Archives, and City Archives of Seaport Cities.

III. FINDING LOST RECORDS, AND SOURCES, OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY by Arlene Eakle:

1. Don't stop with what relatives say...dig deeper.

2. Don't let Library resources dictate your Pedigree results.

3. Get out of the Library!

4. Read the Footnotes of a book first because this could lead to new information not found elsewhere.

5. Your information may require effort to get from other sources.

6. Pay attention to Migration Patterns because they are important for your research.

7. If an ancestor is important...look for information on them from the time of their height of notariety, not just after they died.

8. Research family treasures for locations where they were made, and by whom.

IV.PUTTING FLESH ON THE BONES by Ron Arons:

1. Concentrate on 1 person at a time, and explore them by going beyond Who, What, When, and Where, to WHY.

2. Backward looking documents can be hazardous to your research.

3. Starting with a target person...look into their parents, siblings, children, and other relatives, and their events, and locations.

V. GENEALOGY AND THE CHANGING MAP OF EASTERN EUROPE by Stephen Danko:

1. Julian and Gregorian Calendar dates, both, may appear on some documents.

2. Sources to identify Immigrant Ancestors, learn when they arrives, and where they lived, include: Family Records, Census Records, Military Records, Vital Records and Church Records, Passenger Manifests, and Naturalization Records.

VI. 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE GENEALOGISTS by Dear Myrtle:

Beyond starting the habit of effectively learning from others, the 7 include the following:

A. Document everything, and source it.

B. Start filing right away.

C. Learn from the experts.

D. Adhere to the Genealogical Proof Standards.

E. Use technology wisely.

F. Consider the archivist, or librarians, point of view.

G. Share with others.

1. Just because it's on the internet, or in a book, does not mean it's your person, or even entirely accurate.

2. use binders, and hanging file folders, for filing.

3. Scan images onto your computer.

4. Check out the website of Light Impressions Direct for preservation materials so you can work from photo copies instead of your originals.

5. Attend conferences, and read books, and websites, so you can learn from them.

6. Perform a reasonably exhaustive search; This provides a wide range of high quality sources, and helps you avoid a too hasty conclusion.

7. RESEARCH IDEAS: Check Family Search Catalog, Check US GenWeb, and World Genweb, for Locality Searches, use Libraries in the localities where your ancestors lived (Ask a Librarian for help.), use Historical Societies in the localities where your ancestors lived.

8. Citing sources helps us , and those who come after us.

9. Analysis and Correlation of collected info: Provides for a sound interpretation, should be done for each source, and helps your conclusion reflect all the evidence.

10 Don't Embelish: Take Info at face value until proved.

11. Conflicting Evidence? How about telling your story in notes in order to flesh out what you know?

As you may have heard, we welcomed nearly 40 genealogy bloggers and Tweeple (people who post notes on Twitter) to Jamboree last weekend. In addition, podcasters and video casters were on hand to record several interviews for RootsTelevision.com, GenealogyGuys.com and Genealogy GemsPodcast.com.

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